THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 2
Director: Francis Lawrence
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Julianne Moore
Rating: (M)
Four stars (out of five)
The final instalment of the Hunger Games quadrilogy is a great watch; stimulating the adrenal gland, tickling the intellect, repaying those who endured the unnecessary tedium of Mockingjay Part 1 and siding with the weary in the war between right and might.
It is always hard to compete with the first film of a series that immerses viewers in a compelling new world.
But the Hunger Games finale almost reaches the heights of its firstborn sibling by delivering an exciting, plot-driven experience and strong acting.
The Districts of Panem are rallying behind the Mockingjay, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence).
But can the Rebellion topple the Capitol's tyrannical President Snow (Donald Sutherland)?
Convincing performances of Peeta Mellark's (Josh Hutcherson) unsettling instability, Katniss' borderline suicidal fury and President Snow's simmering civilised barbarism lift this above the normal level of a teenage sci-fi adventure.
As does the central theme of the film - do the ends justify the means? - which is neatly entwined in the series' overarching question, will Katniss ever choose between Peeta and Gale (Liam Hemsworth)?
It is unclear right to the end how this love triangle will be resolved.
And only apparent in hindsight that it is a choice between virtue and strength.
